Two Hours in a Box

[WerewolfOfLondon]

Currently planning a visit - London is chock full of sites we want to experience and really looking forward to it! Unless we go up a tall building just for a view there won’t be any lifts we encounter so far as I know. More worried about clean public loos than rogue lifts, lol.

If some of @VDL_Piper’s beef is on the menu somewhere let me know and we’ll dig in!

Still, the thought of being stuck on the “Eye” scares me enough we won’t be getting on, lol.

In contrast, the elevator that served two floors of our church in our small town got stuck (nobody in it) - took a week for someone from the “big city” to come take a look and a couple months for them to get what they needed and come back and fix it. Different challenges.

Public loos, not many of them about these days. I'd stear clear of them to be honest, just nip into the nearest pub. Public loos in the centre of town, where they exist, should be avoided. Filth holes.

Beef? I stopped eating that must be eight years ago now, I wouldn't have a clue.

Ah man, go on the eye. I had some younger relatives over from Ireland a few years back, and we all went on it. It was the first time I ever had, it was fantastic. I am not great with heights either, but even when you are at the top of the curve, it feels like you're on terra firma. The thing is solid. Gives some pretty fantastic views over the city. I don't think I have ever heard of it getting stuck, although now I've said it, it probably will lol

 

[Hillcrest]

In the old days:

 

[HeavyLeadBelly]

I love living in urban areas and I love living in Milwaukee WI. I grew up in the woods and while my childhood was alright by the time I graduated high school I booked it out of the sticks as fast as I could and never looked back. If I were still married I probably would have moved us to a more rural area where the kids would experience the same things I did growing up.

But it’s just me now and I won’t ever move out of the city. I’m never bored. Where I’m at there’s always something going on whether it’s a new restaurant to try, seeing a band, shopping at a new store. Plus I’ve got Uhles here which I’ve always appreciated even when I wasn’t smoking pipes. I love riding my bicycle and exploring my “place” and experiencing things you just don’t see in a car. Public transportation and Uber/Lyft are readily available along with other public amenities. I’m also and hour or so away from two other cities, Madison and Chicago, which I both love.

And finally, I’m still very close to nature. My city has many amazing parks and I’m a short drive away from a lot of state parks and nature areas where I love hiking. It’s only a little further of a drive if I was to explore other areas of the state.

 

[HeavyLeadBelly]

London has its problems, no doubt about that. I regularly have to chase away drug users when they congregate on my road. But this is never much of a problem because the poor bastards are strung out and as thin as rakes. An eight year old could knock them over. Nevertheless, it normally makes for an unpleasant scene, no one needs that, me or them.

But not everyone can leave. Some of us are stuck here. I could leave, but if I did that, and other family members did the same, my mum would have to go in a home, as she is too sick to leave. And I won't allow that to happen. But for sure, when the time comes, I will probably relocate, either to Ireland, or somewhere on the English coast. Those places have their own problems too though. I would never label everyone living in those communities as 'dumb as turd' because of them though.

It’s pretty sad to see some of our colleagues here broadly generalizing whole groups of people who choose, or have to, live in an urban area. I’ve lived in both rural and urban areas and I can without a doubt state there are problems and issues everywhere. It’s easy to shit on on people you don’t know and those who do so I find lack empathy and critical thinking skills.

 

[WerewolfOfLondon]

It’s pretty sad to see some of our colleagues here broadly generalizing whole groups of people who choose, or have to, live in an urban area. I’ve lived in both rural and urban areas and I can without a doubt state there are problems and issues everywhere. It’s easy to shit on on people you don’t know and those who do so I find lack empathy and critical thinking skills.

Exactly, I really couldn't have said it better.

 

[fireground_piper]

It’s pretty sad to see some of our colleagues here broadly generalizing whole groups of people who choose, or have to, live in an urban area. I’ve lived in both rural and urban areas and I can without a doubt state there are problems and issues everywhere. It’s easy to shit on on people you don’t know and those who do so I find lack empathy and critical thinking skills.

I personally love people who love urban and city landscapes. They are my favorite people in the world because then they stay out of my woods and leave me alone! I just wish they'd stop coming out here for bear selfies or wondering why they got attacked by a bobcat.

 

[rick3wood]

Worked in Dallas and can second the notion that people are incredibly dumb and it wont get better..I moved to the country and it’s night and day difference

 

[HeavyLeadBelly]

I personally love people who love urban and city landscapes. They are my favorite people in the world because then they stay out of my woods and leave me alone! I just wish they'd stop coming out here for bear selfies or wondering why they got attacked by a bobcat.

That’s a really great story! Thanks for sharing

Just want to make an edit: growing up we all resented the tourists from IL and MN who invaded the Northwoods each summer and fall. But a big part of our economy came from those dollars the big city folk spent while they were on vacation.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I just wish they'd stop coming out here for bear selfies or wondering why they got attacked by a bobcat.

I think more city dwellers should take selfies with bears and get attacked by bobcats. I don't mind cities (except New York), and I don't mind the peoples... but people getting mauled from taking a selfie makes me smile.

And, while I don't mind cities, I absolutely refuse to go beyond floor number three in any building. about five or so years ago, my wife booked us a room on the 7th floor, knowing my hatred (fear) of heights. The damned room had one full wall window and a huge balcony. I just went ahead and paid for another full room for myself on the third floor. At least I could survive a fall from three floors, give or take a few broken bones. I'm not about to try to stay in a room that makes me want to vomit. I'd rather fight a bear.

 

[mortonbriar]

I'm a stairs guy myself.

 

[Hillcrest]

I personally love people who love urban and city landscapes. They are my favorite people in the world because then they stay out of my woods and leave me alone! I just wish they'd stop coming out here for bear selfies or wondering why they got attacked by a bobcat.

 

[fireground_piper]

That’s a really great story! Thanks for sharing

Just want to make an edit: growing up we all resented the tourists from IL and MN who invaded the Northwoods each summer and fall. But a big part of our economy came from those dollars the big city folk spent while they were on vacation.

In the event my post seemed satire, it was not. If it weren't for the people who loved and lived in the cities, they'd be living out here and ruining my love of nature. But they do come out here to hike, ride their motorcycles on the scenic roads and are ill prepared for the environment they find themselves in. They think it's like a picture book opportunity.

These folks encounter wildlife and sometimes pay dearly for it or don't respect the roads they are zipping around on and end up losing life or limb. Memorial and Labor Day weekends are the bookends to for these activities.

My first ever day with friends in HS to the WMA shooting range ended with New Yorkers showing up, firing explosive ammunition (illegal), setting the surrounding woods on fire and booking it out of there only to leave calling for police, fire and trying to keep the brush fire under control until all parties arrive to my friends and I. I melted my sneakers that day snuffing burning leaf debris while we waited for the fire response.

 

[K.E. Powell]

Being stuck in an elevator would be a very trying experience. I don't blame you for being mad.

I agree with your reasoning on why city life is not preferable, excepting the criticism that city people are uniquely stupid. We're all products of our environment to some degree or another, and we adapt and settle wherever we are. I'd probably be viewed as a dumb tourist if I tried to make it in NYC or London, because I've little experience in such places. It doesn't make me dumb, it just is.

As for country vs city living, well, I am a deeply boring person, so suburban or small-town style living is what I prefer. I've access to country and enjoy it from time to time, but I don't think I would like living deep in the holler. Where I am at, I am within an 1-2 hour drive to wherever I could possibly want, but I am still close enough to amenities and I am not paying $1700 a month in rent to be packed like hogs in a pen.

Balance, as in all things, I suppose.

 

[HeavyLeadBelly]

In the event my post seemed satire, it was not. If it weren't for the people who loved and lived in the cities, they'd be living out here and ruining my love of nature. But they do come out here to hike, ride their motorcycles on the scenic roads and are ill prepared for the environment they find themselves in. They think it's like a picture book opportunity.

These folks encounter wildlife and sometimes pay dearly for it or don't respect the roads they are zipping around on and end up losing life or limb. Memorial and Labor Day weekends are the bookends to for these activities.

My first ever day with friends in HS to the WMA shooting range ended with New Yorkers showing up, firing explosive ammunition (illegal), setting the surrounding woods on fire and booking it out of there only to leave calling for police, fire and trying to keep the brush fire under control until all parties arrive to my friends and I. I melted my sneakers that day snuffing burning leaf debris while we waited for the fire response.

Terrible experiences for sure. Yet I hear about all sorts of stupid stuff happening to rural folk too, literally in their own back yards such as my friend who zipped off two and half fingers in a bandsaw a few years ago. I’ve known many people getting in terrible car accidents because They were driving recklessly around their rural roads.

As much as you’d like to think stupid is reserved for the city, rest assured there’s plenty of it in the country and I bet you’d be complaining about it if the big city folk stopped invading your home turf lol

 

[fireground_piper]

Terrible experiences for sure. Yet I hear about all sorts of stupid stuff happening to rural folk too, literally in their own back yards such as my friend who zipped off two and half fingers in a bandsaw a few years ago. I’ve known many people getting in terrible car accidents because They were driving recklessly around their rural roads.

As much as you’d like to think stupid is reserved for the city, rest assured there’s plenty of it in the country and I bet you’d be complaining about it if the big city folk stopped invading your home turf lol

Rest assured, I also call the local idiots, idiots as well. They're usually idiots for different reasons though!

 

[HeavyLeadBelly]

Rest assured, I also call the local idiots, idiots as well. They're usually idiots for different reasons though!

Now we’re cooking with some butter my man! Morons are everywhere!

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

there is no monopoly on idiots anywhere

 

[sablebrush52]

In the old days:
View attachment 276919

This looks like the Grand Staircase on the Titanic.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Technology makes us stupid. Each generation understands less and less because they rely on a technology that they don't fully understand. This generation thinks that smart phones will last forever, but we all thought that VCRs were here forever also. Once satellites are all knocked out of their orbits, and these people have no idea how to use a map, or write things by hand, or even how to calculate or convert things.
AI and self driving cars will be the end of us.

Global warming... the idea that I should be saving this world for the morons that will follow me? I don't even understand, and they are doing a shit job of selling me on the idea. Someone too lazy and stupid to drive a car? I won't even let my wife drive me, why would I turn my life over to a computer? Let the place burn. Go pet a bear.

 

[WerewolfOfLondon]

I'm sure the sight of a city slicker being violently mauled by a wild animal must be quite the hilarious romp for you seasoned country dudes.

This is very much like when those from the country come down to London and end up under a bus because they've tried to cross the road too early. Take yourself off to the centre of the city on any given day, and at least somewhere you will find a group of city slickers, bedecked in pinstripe suits and braces, rolling on the floor in fits of laughter at the sight of a stricken country dweller under the front wheels of a bus. Or better yet, iwhen they arrive in one of the major railway stations and because they lack any street smarts, find themselves quikly releaved of all their possessions by some enterprising young addict. That's particularly hilarious, because like the slickers who get mauled by a bear, they have singularly failed to understand the ferral nature of the place they have just arrived in, and end up paying for it in the most horrendous way. That'll teach em, and we'll all get a great laugh along the way lol